Town Square

Police arrest 27 in East Palo Alto crackdown

One week after East Palo Alto police Chief Ron Davis responded to a spike in gun violence by declaring a crime emergency in the city, patrol units have made 27 arrests in a crackdown focused on the Norteno street gang, officials announced today.

What has been the long-term effect of these previous crackdowns? While this police action might get a few of these people off the streets for a few days, what will be the real impact of this crackdown? How many will pay a fine, or plead out, being back on the streets of EPA within a few days?

There is some chance that the EPA police might learn something from these guys—leading to the identify of those responsible for the murder, and shootings, but then again—this is America .. once Mirandized .. these boys can clam up and there isn’t a lot the police can do.

Posted by mutti
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 29, 2013 at 11:59 am

After EPA had the most murders/capita in the early 1990's there was a crackdown that put about 60 people in prison. The crime rate dropped DRAMATICALLY. Most of those who live in EPA are hard-working with strong families. It's a few 'bad-apples' who are causing all the problems. Ship them out and let us have safe neighborhoods.

Posted by Bill
a resident of another community
on May 29, 2013 at 12:37 pm

Are those incarcerated in the 1990's out of prison now or just getting out? It is well known that gang activity is orchestrated from outside to inside prison and from inside to outside. It's been about 'twenty-years"and the governor is letting more offenders released and more go 'outside'.

Posted by D-villgirl
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 29, 2013 at 12:50 pm

I lived in EPA back when it was considered the "Murder Capitol" but that ended up being a farce. Bodies were dumped in EPA from other cities and tagged as murders in EPA. At the time there was a big campaign to move people out of EPA with "Cash for homes" because EPA is a gold mine due to it's location. Silicon Valley wanted to grab the land in order to house their exec's then the bubble burst and folks migrated to Stockton, Modesto, Antioch and Tracy. A new group of folks funneled into city legally & not so legally thus creating a whole different gang culture.